Senate committee advances bill to boost film and TV tax credits and expand eligibility

The California State Senate Committee on Tax, Revenue and Taxation on a unanimous 5-0 vote advanced Assembly Bill 1138, a proposal to raise and expand California's film and television tax credit program and add workforce incentives intended to bring production and jobs back to the state.

An assembly member (unnamed in the transcript) presented the bill alongside Senator Allen, who is a joint author, saying the measure modernizes the state's film tax credit program to make it more competitive with incentives offered by other states and countries. "California's iconic film and television production industry is in crisis," the presenter said, and AB 1138 is "a job spill pure and simple." The presenter credited the program since 2009 with creating more than 197,000 jobs and $26 billion in economic activity.

The bill would increase base tax credit rates, broaden the kinds of productions eligible, increase set-asides for independent productions, and add new workforce incentives. Specifically, sponsors described raising the base…